Sunday our wonderful sermon was about positioning yourself to be blessed. We were reminded that God wants to bless us and will, but sometimes we will have to position ourselves to be blessed.
Luke 19:1 We are reminded of Zacchaeus, the very short, very wealthy man who positioned himself to be blessed by Jesus by running before the crowd of people who were surrounding HIM and climbing into a sycamore tree so that he could be seen. He was indeed blessed with salvation that very day!
Matthew 8:8 We were shown an example of someone humbling himself to God saying that I am not worthy for you to come under my roof, but speak the Word only, and my servant shall be healed...And Jesus said "as you have believed, so be it done unto you."
Mark 5 The example of the woman with the issue of blood touching the hem of Jesus' garmet and Him replying "your faith has made you whole." She believed that just touching his robe would heal her and she positioned herself for this to happen.
Mark 10 We are shown the example of the blind man, Bartimaeus, who pressed on despite being told to shut up, yelling and crying for mercy and being granted his sight.
Malachi 3:10 refers to tithing and bringing tithes to His House and in doing so he will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing that we won't have enough room to receive it and he will rebuke our devourer and we will be called blessed.
Lastly, we are given instruction as to what we need to do to to position ourselves for a blessing.
We are to:
1) Humble Ourselves (specifically he mentioned fasting)
2) Pray
3) Seek His Face First
4) Turn From Our Wicked Ways
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Praise In The Storm
While reading my March "Guideposts" (thank you Aunt Susan)...I came across an idea that I had never heard before and so I've been pondering. The story was about a man whose wife had suffered for years with bouts of depression and his boss was giving him advice.
The man's boss suggested that for him to heal, he had to think about the difference between thankfulness and praise. Thankfulness is "us-centered"...when something works out the way we want it to, we are thankful. Praise is "God-centered"...praise is being aware of God in your life right now...NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
This first made me think of one of my favorite songs ever..."Praise You In The Storm", and then made me think of a message of Joyce Meyer's I heard recently about worrying. She shared that worry is simply being afraid that things aren't going to turn out like we want them to...and truly TRUSTING GOD is just the opposite of that. Trusting God is KNOWING that no matter how things turn out, we are children of God and as such we can stand on his promises and know that we will be OK.
I pray that I will begin to Trust and Praise HIM more and worry less.
The man's boss suggested that for him to heal, he had to think about the difference between thankfulness and praise. Thankfulness is "us-centered"...when something works out the way we want it to, we are thankful. Praise is "God-centered"...praise is being aware of God in your life right now...NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
This first made me think of one of my favorite songs ever..."Praise You In The Storm", and then made me think of a message of Joyce Meyer's I heard recently about worrying. She shared that worry is simply being afraid that things aren't going to turn out like we want them to...and truly TRUSTING GOD is just the opposite of that. Trusting God is KNOWING that no matter how things turn out, we are children of God and as such we can stand on his promises and know that we will be OK.
I pray that I will begin to Trust and Praise HIM more and worry less.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
To Forgive or Not Forgive???
Forgiveness
I do not recall the exact date that our pastor preached on Forgiveness, but the message was profound. My notes certainly fail to capture the entire message, but for me ,the most important point made, was that if I am going to seek forgiveness from God (and it seems like I have to on a daily basis) then, I MUST forgive those who trespass against me. My prayer is that I will remember this when I need it...for truly, like Jesus said...most often, they know not what they do.
Luke 23:33, Luke 23:42, John 8:1, Psalm 78:37, Matthew 6:14, Luke 17:3, Matthew 18:21, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:12
Luke 23:33 & 34 As Jesus is on the cross just before being crucified he cried out and said... Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Luke 23:42&43 The criminal next to him on the cross asked him to remember him when He made it to heaven and Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with Me in Paradise.
John 8:1-11 The story of the woman taken in adultery.."He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." No one did and He tells the woman to go and sin no more.
Psalms 78:37-38 How he forgave the Israelites and did not get angry or stir up his wrath.
Matthew 6:14 Only if we forgive will we be forgiven (WOW!!!)
Luke 17:3 If our brother trespasses against us and repents, forgive him... even seven times in a day.
Matthew 18:21-35 His command for us to forgive seventy times seven or unlimited forgiveness and the parable illustrating the principle of forgiveness. (the man's debt was forgiven by God, but he didn't forgive the debt that someone owed him)
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication come out of our mouth, only that which is good to the use of edifying (building someone up).
Colossians 3:12-17 Demonstrate the fruit of the spirit
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Grace To Overcome
February 15, 2009
The grace of God to overcome is: His kindness and favor...the undeserved love He gives...a free gift
Titus 2:11, 2Peter 3:1, Romans 6:1, Hebrews 10:26
Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men 12 Teaching us that, denying unGodliness and wordly lusts we should live soberly, Righteously and Godly in this present world (Grace helps us to life the life we should so that we can get to heaven. Teaches us to be purified.)
2Peter 3:1
2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the Holy Prophets, and of the Commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Savior 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (Scoffers-people who reject the cross...who tell us that their sin is not sin and try to get us to follow. We should pray for guidance and wisdom and strength from God to NOT follow these and be found without spot and blameless. For if we listen and believe them above what we know to be true, then we are to be judged more harshly.)
Romans 6:1
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (How can we continue to live in sin if we are dead to sin? Don't let sin reign in our mortal bodies. Constantly keep in check our eyes, ears, tongue, feet. Living in sin is different than an occasional realization that as a Christian we are somewhere we shouldn't be. In our Christian walk, we all make it there sometimes, but if we convince ourselves that something we know is sin is not and continue to live it and not seek forgiveness...this is giving sin dominion over us. There is NOTHING that can make us sin. We YIELD to sin...we choose to sin.)
Hebrews 10:26
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remains no more Sacrifice for sins. 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was Sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of Grace? 30 For we know Him Who has said, Vengeance belongs unto Me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall Judge His people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.
Today's sermon concluded with the following scriptures.
Hebrews 4:16~Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. 2Corinthians 12:9~And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My Strength is made perfect in weakness.(The commentary in my Bible says that we are all weak, but the Lord sometimes makes us weaker, with the intention being that we then depend solely upon Him, thereby obtaining His Strength..the chapter continues to verify that the Lord loves it when we are weak for then He is strong...when we humble ourselves and KNOW that we are nothing without him...it is then that we become everything.) 1Corinthians 15:10~But by the Grace of God, I am what I am.
***At the end of this service, I really thought that the most poignant scripture for me was going to be ...1Cor15:10~But by the Grace of God, for I often say this exact thing when realizing that I could be very far from where I am...there were many other paths that I could have just as easily gone down and I am so thankful that I didn't. Upon further study, I think my focus needs to be on 2Cor12:9 and I need to be more aware that His grace is sufficient and that I am NOTHING without him. I need to yield more to HIS grace and humble myself more to his control so that the strength of Christ can be exhibited through me. This will be my prayer today.***
The grace of God to overcome is: His kindness and favor...the undeserved love He gives...a free gift
Titus 2:11, 2Peter 3:1, Romans 6:1, Hebrews 10:26
Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men 12 Teaching us that, denying unGodliness and wordly lusts we should live soberly, Righteously and Godly in this present world (Grace helps us to life the life we should so that we can get to heaven. Teaches us to be purified.)
2Peter 3:1
2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the Holy Prophets, and of the Commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Savior 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (Scoffers-people who reject the cross...who tell us that their sin is not sin and try to get us to follow. We should pray for guidance and wisdom and strength from God to NOT follow these and be found without spot and blameless. For if we listen and believe them above what we know to be true, then we are to be judged more harshly.)
Romans 6:1
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (How can we continue to live in sin if we are dead to sin? Don't let sin reign in our mortal bodies. Constantly keep in check our eyes, ears, tongue, feet. Living in sin is different than an occasional realization that as a Christian we are somewhere we shouldn't be. In our Christian walk, we all make it there sometimes, but if we convince ourselves that something we know is sin is not and continue to live it and not seek forgiveness...this is giving sin dominion over us. There is NOTHING that can make us sin. We YIELD to sin...we choose to sin.)
Hebrews 10:26
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remains no more Sacrifice for sins. 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was Sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of Grace? 30 For we know Him Who has said, Vengeance belongs unto Me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall Judge His people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.
Today's sermon concluded with the following scriptures.
Hebrews 4:16~Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. 2Corinthians 12:9~And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My Strength is made perfect in weakness.(The commentary in my Bible says that we are all weak, but the Lord sometimes makes us weaker, with the intention being that we then depend solely upon Him, thereby obtaining His Strength..the chapter continues to verify that the Lord loves it when we are weak for then He is strong...when we humble ourselves and KNOW that we are nothing without him...it is then that we become everything.) 1Corinthians 15:10~But by the Grace of God, I am what I am.
***At the end of this service, I really thought that the most poignant scripture for me was going to be ...1Cor15:10~But by the Grace of God, for I often say this exact thing when realizing that I could be very far from where I am...there were many other paths that I could have just as easily gone down and I am so thankful that I didn't. Upon further study, I think my focus needs to be on 2Cor12:9 and I need to be more aware that His grace is sufficient and that I am NOTHING without him. I need to yield more to HIS grace and humble myself more to his control so that the strength of Christ can be exhibited through me. This will be my prayer today.***
Longing For Time With Jesus
My four year old niece has recently become obsessed with going to church. On Saturdays she starts in on her mom (my sister) about going to church tomorrow and telling her that she has to take her because "she loves it." Well, I just know my sister and sometimes she and her husband make it and sometimes they don't so, I called last night to see if my niece just wanted to spend the night with me, and thereby, be sure to make it to church the next morning. Needless to say when I pulled up, she had her bag slung over her shoulder and was heading out the door yelling goodbye to her parents. She was ready to go.
It was already late, so our night was uneventful. We made it to bed and up this morning and on the way to church she says "It's been a LONG time." I asked her what she meant and she tells me that it has been a long time to come to church. I assume that she thought we were going to church when I came to pick her up and the whole going to sleep and getting breakfast and dressed and everything just took much longer than she had bargained for. She was so excited and ready to get to God's house. My prayer is that she will always love going to church. I pray that I too will have that hunger, anticipation, and longing about getting back to God's house.
It's always amazes me at what God teaches us through little children.
It was already late, so our night was uneventful. We made it to bed and up this morning and on the way to church she says "It's been a LONG time." I asked her what she meant and she tells me that it has been a long time to come to church. I assume that she thought we were going to church when I came to pick her up and the whole going to sleep and getting breakfast and dressed and everything just took much longer than she had bargained for. She was so excited and ready to get to God's house. My prayer is that she will always love going to church. I pray that I too will have that hunger, anticipation, and longing about getting back to God's house.
It's always amazes me at what God teaches us through little children.
Praying for Growth and Grace
I am always so very psyched upon leaving church and hearing my pastors messages. Lately he has been doing a phenomenal job of presenting the Gospel (or maybe I'm just more aware). I always take notes and fully intend to "spread the word". Inevitably I fail to do so and have been meaning to start a journal of my notes. This will is hopefully to serve as that outlet and to help solidify my thoughts and understanding of The Word of God... The title for this blog "Growing In Grace" was inspired by today's message on Grace. My prayer is that each day I will learn and grow.
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